Improvement in breech-loading ordnance



' W. F. GODWIN.

Breach-Loading Ordnance.

Patented Jnne 14, 1864 I Wwsw `when the gun is to be loaded.

` lil-nire Smarts artnr trier.

WILLIAM n. GOODWIN, or rownarnn, OI-IIO.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. SJIML dlcdh-IHHG 14, 1354 To a/ZZ whom, t nung/ concerne Be it known that I, WILLIAM; F. GOODWIN, of Powhatan, in the countyof Belmont and State of Ohio, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Breech-Loading Ordnance; and I do hereby declare the following to vbe a full and exact description of the seme, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a plan of a cannon illustrating my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same in the line x x, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section, showing the parts in position for loading.y

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several iigures.

This invention relates, first, to a swinging yoke or breech-piece of novel and improved construction 5 second, to a gun so formed as to adapt a swinging yoke or breech-piece formed in one piece to be applied and secured without employing trunnions as ameans of attachment; third, to a breech-plug of peculiar construction, and to a novel device for adapting the same to be more readily inserted or removed. n

In Order that others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains maybe enabled to fully understand and use the same, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

In the accompanying drawings, A may repsent a gun formed or cast at its brcechwith an enlargement, A.

B represents a yoke or breech-piece adapted to be turned in a horizontal plane at the rear of the gun, in order to cover and secure the breechplug in position when the gun is to be fired, or permitthe breech-plug to be removed This yoke B is constructedin one piece of solid wrought-iron, in form substantially as shown in Fig. 2. On its ends are formed circular iianged cheeks B B', each of which occupies a corresponding countersink, a, which countersinks are formed partially in the enlargementA and partially in a re-enforce, C, and when the cheeks B are in their respective countersinks they are prevented from displacement by means of iianges b b, which t in corresponding grooves in the countersinks.

From the above description it will be seen by my invention no difficulty whatever will be involved in applying and screwing the yoke to the gun, as in doing this it is only necessary to insert the cheeks B B into the semi-countersinks in the enlargement A previously to the application of the re-enforce C, and then shrink on the re-enforce in customary manner.

Another advantage gained in thus attaching the yoke is that the latter may be formed in one solid piece of the smallest dimensions which strength will permit, without necessitating the employment of an additional pair of' trunnions or making the arms of the yoke long enough to reach from the rear of the breech to the trunnions J, upon which the gun is mounted.

E represents a rigid segmental rack,extend ing inward from an arm, E', which latter is rigidly secured to the enlargement A.

Between the rack E and a rack, F, on the rear end of the yoke B works aloose pinion, G, which may be turned so as to change the position of the yoke B by means of a crankhandle, G. The pinion G maybe adapted to require but half a turn to move the yoke from one position to the other, and it is designed to so arrange the crank G that it will be unnecessary to bring it in close proximity with the cascabel II, in order to impart the requisite movement to the pinion G.

I represents a breech-plug, which isv made in tapering form, and adapted to fit within a corresponding receptacle or chamber in the breech and be securely retained therein by the yoke B, which presses snugly against the rear end of saidplug when the parts are in position for firing.

I represents a ring formed of vulcanized india-rubber or other elastic material, which fits over a stem, z', 'formed upon the breechplug I, and is secured in proper position and preserved from contact'with the iire by means of a disk, i, which may be pressed with the requisite iirmnessagainst the elastic ring I by a screw, i2, which tits within a corresponding screw-threaded aperture in the stem t'.

Upon the rear end of the plug I is formed a iiange, it, between which and the face of the chamber in which the plug I rests is interposed an elastic spring, i, which may be of sufficient strength t-o either loosen or entirely expel the breech-plug when the yoke B is 2 naar@ moved out of contact with the rear end thereof'. It will` be seen that by this arrangement the escape of gas at the rear of the,A gun is effectually prevented by the backward force of the explosion, which, taking effect upon the disk t', expands the ring I/, and forms a perfectly gastight joint. y

I2 represents an arm securely attached at one end to the plug I, and at its other end hinged to an arm, I, which in turn may be hinged to the enlargement A. rIhese arms are designed to support the breech-plug I when withdrawn, and expedite as welll as facilitate the insertion or removal of the same.

j represents the vent, which, as shown, is partially constituted by an aperture through the screw i2, and communicates with corresponding apertures in the yoke B and cascabel II, in the latter oi' which the primer is inserted. Should the perforated screw i hecome injured by contact with the re or otherwise, it may of course be replaced.

jji represent key-holes, into which is inserted the key,v which may be employed for withdrawing the plug I. l

may represent a projection upon the arm I2, which constitutes a stop to arrest the turning of the yoke B, when it reaches the proper position to securely retain the breech-pluu Ii' preferred, the yoke B may be used independently of or without a re-enforce, and for the enlargement A may be substituted separate bosses or projections, in which may be made the countersinks for the reception of the ends of the yoke, instead of having the projecting metal extend completely around the gun, as described.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. A swinging yoke or breech-piece constructed,substantiallyasdescribed,withcheeks BQ by which it is secured to the gun without rcquirin g the employment of trunnions, screws, or bolts.

2. In combination with the above, a cannon formed with an enlargement, A', and recesses or eountersinks a, receiving and se curing the ends of the yoke and constituting the bearings on which it is oscillated, substantially as explained.

The doubly-jointed swinging arms I2 I, for carrying the breech-plug I, and permitting the ready insertion and withdrawal of the same, substantially in the manner specified.

4. rIhe spring i, employed in the manner described, to close the joint at the rear of the breech-plug, and loosen or expel the latter when the yoke is turned back.

5. The combination of the racks E F, and loose pinion G, for operating the swinging breech-yoke B, in the manner explained.

XVM. F. GOODWIN.

Vitiiesses:

` CHARLns DU Bois,

CHARLES D. SMITH. 

